“Now I Know There Is A Panther In Me.”

What is your name and age? Tell us a bit about yourself!

I am Aiyana, and I’m 21. I am a Service Desk Analyst at an IT support company. I am the only girl on the service; it’s a very male dominated environment!

Can you tell us, why did you decide to book your Divine Divas Experience?

I decided I wanted to push myself this year. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and try to find my confidence. I wanted to become the confident, sexy woman that my partner sees when he looks at me.

Obviously, we have quite in depth phone calls with you before your experience! Do you feel that it was an important part of the photography experience? Do you feel it added to the experience?

I loved the phone calls before the experience, and I genuinely believe it did make the experience better. The calls eased me into it and, what’s more, they allowed me to talk through a lot of the anxiety I had.

Having a professional makeup artist work with you on the day, do you think this added to the experience, and what did it do for your confidence coming into the shoot?

Shannon, the professional makeup artist, was amazing. I’m not normally a make-up person so it was amazing to have my make-up done by someone who knows what they’re doing with a brush! I didn’t think I’d ever look good with make-up on but this has made me want to try for date nights and special events now!

A lot of women feel self conscious about having a boudoir experience - knowing what you know now, what would you say to any woman feeling a little self conscious about herself and treating herself to this experience?

Ease yourself into it! If you’re nervous, you don’t have to wear your nice sexy underwear right off the bat! You can still have incredibly sexy photos with robes, skirts, hell - even a biker jacket! One of the best things about the experience was that we went at my pace and by the end, I felt brave enough to be in heels and my sexy lingerie.

What was it like actually being photographed? How did you find the photoshoot itself?

I’m normally so camera shy and have so much trouble liking, or even just not deleting, any photos of myself. But the team at Divine Divas really helped me bring out my colours. We started with less saucy photos and gradually built up to more seductive tone. I genuinely loved the experience so much that I’m considering joining a modelling agency!

Did this experience bring out a side of yourself? Did it help you reconnect/celebrate any side of yourself?

Definitely! I feel more confident and I have even started voicing my concerns at work when something isn’t going right. Plus, my partner and I are finally on the same page. I feel like I can FINALLY see what he sees when we wake up next to each other every morning.

Tell us - what was the moment you saw your photos for the first time like?

Honestly, there are no words. Stunning. Breathe-taking. Shocking, even. I couldn’t believe that it was actually me. I really did not recognise myself. I could see my hair, I could see my face, and I recognised those elements of ME, but it was like seeing my body for the first time. And the attitude caught on camera made me unrecognisable! I often struggle with feeling shy, I just couldn’t believe how badass I looked! Even my partner was speechless and had to process what he saw.

Confidence, self-love and self-appreciation is a big thing - in fact it is everything. How has this boudoir experience elevated who you are in different areas of your life - for example has this confidence affected your relationship or your career?

I think building on what I’ve already said, I am so much more confident taking up space at work. We are actually even talking about a pay rise! They like my ideas and want me to implement them - and it was confidence and self worth that enabled me to voice these ideas and tell them I’d like to implement them for more money. In this climate, that is invaluable. It’s actually meant that the prospect of my partner and I having our own space is no longer just a fairytale! I don’t feel as much as a financial burden to my partner now either.

What stood out for you about the experience? Did anything surprise you?

I’d say what stood out to me the most was just how lovely and supportive everyone is! From the women in the Facebook VIP Group to the discovery calls with the Divas team, everyone was so nice. Even when we had to rearrange the schedule because I got sick everyone was so nice. I felt so bad but after the phone call, I felt like I hadn’t been an inconvenience at all.

Obviously we know we’re an investment, but we believe that celebrating yourself is totally an investment worthwhile. Was it money well spent for you?!

It was definitely worth the money! I just wish there was a way to make this experience last even longer!

In years to come, when you look at your artwork, see the woman in your art staring back at yourself, what do you know you will feel?

I cannot say for certain what I would feel, but I like to think it will be happiness. I’ll be proud that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, getting ahead of a difficult mental state - and really grabbing life with both hands and giving it all I’ve got! Even when I stumble and have days where I don’t want to get out of bed, let alone brush my hair, I will know that I have a panther inside of me.

Give us your best top tip for any future Divas!

Wear that set you brought for Valentine’s Day or hardly ever get a chance to wear! It will make that set your secret weapon with the memories you feel when you wear it!